Burdwood Bank facts for kids
The Burdwood Bank, also known as Namuncurá in Argentina and other countries, is a special underwater area. It's like a big hill or plateau under the sea, rising about 200 meters (656 feet) from the seafloor. This bank is part of a larger underwater mountain range called the Scotia Arc. It stretches about 600 kilometers (373 miles) from Cape Horn into the South Atlantic Ocean.
The Burdwood Bank is located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of the Falkland Islands. Both Argentina and the United Kingdom have different ideas about who has economic rights over this area. Argentina claims the whole bank, while the UK says about half of it is part of the Falklands' special economic zone.
This underwater bank is one of four important features off the coast of Argentina. It acts like a wall, blocking the cold Antarctic Circumpolar Current from flowing north. The bank itself is quite large, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from east to west and 60 kilometers (37 miles) from north to south. There are deep channels on either side of the bank. The western channel is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) wide and 400 meters (1,312 feet) deep. The eastern channel is wider, about 130 kilometers (81 miles), and much deeper, reaching up to 1,800 meters (5,905 feet).
Long ago, about three million years ago, the Burdwood Bank experienced several big underwater landslides. These landslides caused huge waves, similar to tsunamis, that crashed into the southern coast of the Falkland Islands. Scientists believe these waves could have been as high as 40 meters (131 feet) on the southern coast. Even in Port Stanley, the capital, the waves might have reached up to 10 meters (33 feet) high.
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Amazing Animals of Burdwood Bank
The Burdwood Bank is a fantastic place for many different kinds of animals, especially birds and sea creatures. The special conditions here create a rich environment, making it a great spot for fishing and for animals to find food.
Birds that Soar and Dive
Many types of albatrosses and petrels love to feed in the waters around the Burdwood Bank. These include:
- Black-browed albatross
- Grey-headed albatross
- Wandering albatross
- Tristan albatross
- Northern giant petrel
- Southern giant petrel
- White-chinned petrel
You can also find several kinds of penguins here:
Seals and Other Marine Life
Large marine mammals, like sea lions and elephant seals, also live and feed in this area. The bank's waters are important breeding and spawning grounds for many fish species. The most common fish found directly on the bank are small notothenids like Patagonotothen guntheri and the famous Patagonian toothfish. The waters here also have very high levels of chlorophyll, which means there's lots of tiny plant life (phytoplankton) that forms the base of the food chain.
See also
In Spanish: Banco Namuncurá/Burdwood para niños
